Natural Living School

The Natural Living School, is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, at the Ananda Village, a yoga and meditation community that studies the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.  It is one of the oldest intentional spiritual communities in the world.  The School is a place where people can come and gain the experience and confidence they need to simplify their lives, learn to live in balance with nature, and to feed their spirits.  We will teach you how to legally construct your own affordable, naturally built cottage, create your own home garden with the potential for self sufficiency, as well as educate you in the art of natural living and higher thinking.  The school is a drug and substance free atmosphere. 

Who We Are

In the joys and challenges of raising a family, we are faced with the struggle of meeting our economic needs and still having a healthy life and healthy family.  In order to ease the burden we have chosen to simplify our lives and now wish to share our experiences and help others do the same.  Join us in creating affordable housing for a community of people striving to live simply, in balance with nature and spirit. 

Lauren holding Solis, next to Oliver, then Pablo and Esme

During the summer of 2010 we were blessed with the opportunity to study and apprentice with the Cob Cottage Company, the oldest natural building school in the country.  We were deeply touched from our first moments at the Cob Cottage Company when we encountered a sign in the path that reads “There are two ways to get rich, you can make more money or you can require less.”  Studying with Ianto, Linda, and the many other talented natural builders that pass through CCC taught us invaluable lessons about natural building and simple living.   

The Myrtle Building At Cob Cottage Company

In the winter of 2010 our experience and knowledge was put into practice in Southern California during several plastering projects and the construction of a round wood timber framed dojo.

Eucalyptus round wood, timber framed Dojo at Spirit Pine Sanctuary

In the summer of 2011 we designed and constructed a natural building classroom in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Balecob classroom with a reciprocal round wood roof

in 2012 we built a balecob shop, which we will continue to work on during the 2013 building season. 

Now we are gearing up for the next building season, where we will be finishing the balecob classroom, the balecob shop, and start construction on a round wood timber framed, balecob addition, built to code.

Through our experiences these last couple years, building and living in natural buildings, we have come to love constructing with natural materials, sourced from the land to create beautifully intimate cottages.  We have also come to understand that natural building is not just a way of building; it is a way of life.